"The Government doesn't understand our situations"

 May 13, 2015

Residents in disaster-hit regions unhappy over gov't plan to end some projects

http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20150513p2a00m0na016000c.html

The central government plans to terminate 10 projects at the end of fiscal 2015 under a plan unveiled on May 12 by the Reconstruction Agency.

The government says the projects are those that have achieved their goals or those that are no longer needed or have little urgency. But a resident in a disaster-hit region in Japan's northeast said, "The government doesn't understand our situations." The reactions from the disaster-stricken regions underscore gaps with the central government which wants to promote "self-reliance" for the afflicted areas.

The projects set to end at the end of fiscal 2015 include the "information assistance project" for those who voluntarily evacuated outside Fukushima Prefecture and other people in the wake of the outbreak of the crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant. The budget for the project is about 100 million yen for this fiscal year. The project involves the hosting of networking events outsourced to entities such as nonprofit organizations in eight prefectures across the country, as well as counselling on livelihoods for those who evacuated outside Fukushima Prefecture, among other activities. Under the project, newsletters containing information on disaster aid have been issued.

According to the evacuation assistance division at the Fukushima Prefectural Government, about 46,000 people are taking shelter outside the prefecture. The project has been used not only by those who voluntarily evacuated but also those who fled from evacuation zones to areas outside Fukushima.

A prefectural government official in charge of the project angrily said, "I don't see the reason why the central government will terminate a project 'derived from the nuclear plant (disaster),' which it is supposed to fully finance." A 78-year-old man, who evacuated from the Fukushima Prefecture city of Minamisoma and is currently taking shelter in the Tochigi Prefecture city of Shimotsuke, said, "Being told that it will 'finish after five years,' I feel like I'm also being abandoned." Osamu Satake, 75, who evacuated from the Fukushima Prefecture city of Minamosoma to the Niigata Prefecture city of Sanjo, said, "It's painful to think that burdens will be placed on local governments that are accepting evacuees when the project is terminated."

In Fukushima Prefecture, a "next-generation renewable energy research and development project" designed to back up efforts to develop renewable energy will be terminated. A prefectural government official in charge of the project said, "Because this is a core project to reconstruct Fukushima, we want the government to continue to provide support."

Among the projects destined to be terminated at the end of fiscal 2015 is the "emergency job creation project." Using the project, some local governments have been patrolling around temporary housing units. In Iwate Prefecture, about 60 people have been hired for the project to patrol around temporary housing units at least in Kamaishi, Rikuzentakata and Yamada.

At temporary housing units in disaster-stricken regions, programs have been carried out to provide speaking partners to the elderly and help people with dementia come back to their residences from wandering about, among other activities. If the project is terminated, such programs will be gravely affected. A prefectural government official in charge of the project said, "Employment support will be needed in disaster-hit regions from now on, too."

May 13, 2015(Mainichi Japan)